West Virginia Blows Out Top-Ranked Baylor
Just one game into being the No. 1 team in the country, the Baylor Bears are no longer undefeated, and it wasn't even close. Nathan Adrian scored a career-high 22 points, leading No. 10 West Virginia in an 89-68 rout of No. 1 Baylor on Tuesday night. It is the largest defeat for a team in their first game as No. 1 in history. This loss comes after the Bears squeaked past Iowa State and Oklahoma State by a combined six points last week. They became the No. 1 team after Villanova's loss to Butler last Wednesday. Baylor comitted a season-high 29 turnovers in the loss, just two short of the school record, and the most for a power conference school this season. The Mountaineers began the second half on an 11-3 run, getting their lead as large as 26 points. They have now defeated Baylor three straight times, and improved to 5-8 against top-ranked teams in school history.
Florida State Takes Down Coach K-Less Duke
The Duke Blue Devils just did not look like the same team without Coach K on the sidelines, as No. 9 Florida State blew out the seventh-ranked Blue Devils, 88-72, on Tuesday. The win is the Seminoles' 12th in a row, as they were led by Xavier Rathan-Mayes' 21 points, 18 of which came in the second half. Dwayne Bacon and Terance Mann had 13 points each, as the Seminoles 12 straight wins is a school record, breaking a mark set in 1970. They also improved to 4-0 in ACC play for the first time in school history. FSU used a 16-4 run in the second half to pull away in their first game as a top-10 team since 1993. Duke fell to 2-2 in conference play, but was led by Luke Kennard's 23 points and Jayson Tatum's 21.
Harden's Triple-Double Leads Rockets to Ninth Straight Win
The Houston Rockets are on fire, as is their star and MVP candidate, James Harden. The bearded one finished with 40 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists, leading Houston to their ninth straight victory, 121-114, on Tuesday night over the Charlotte Hornets. It was Harden's 11th triple-double of the season, the 20th of his career, and the third of which while putting up 40 points this season. The latter number ties Russell Westbrook and Michael Jordan with the most such games in the past 30 seasons. He is also the fourth player in NBA history with at least 40 points, 10 rebounds, andd 10 assists in consecutive games. The 27-year-old did so in a win over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday as well. The Rockets did lead by as many as 18, but missed 10 straight shots, allowing Charlotte back into the game. Kemba Walker, who finished with 25 points, hit a three late to pull within three. Although, the Hornets could not stop Harden on the other end in the final seconds, helping the Rockets hang on.
Just one game into being the No. 1 team in the country, the Baylor Bears are no longer undefeated, and it wasn't even close. Nathan Adrian scored a career-high 22 points, leading No. 10 West Virginia in an 89-68 rout of No. 1 Baylor on Tuesday night. It is the largest defeat for a team in their first game as No. 1 in history. This loss comes after the Bears squeaked past Iowa State and Oklahoma State by a combined six points last week. They became the No. 1 team after Villanova's loss to Butler last Wednesday. Baylor comitted a season-high 29 turnovers in the loss, just two short of the school record, and the most for a power conference school this season. The Mountaineers began the second half on an 11-3 run, getting their lead as large as 26 points. They have now defeated Baylor three straight times, and improved to 5-8 against top-ranked teams in school history.
Florida State Takes Down Coach K-Less Duke
The Duke Blue Devils just did not look like the same team without Coach K on the sidelines, as No. 9 Florida State blew out the seventh-ranked Blue Devils, 88-72, on Tuesday. The win is the Seminoles' 12th in a row, as they were led by Xavier Rathan-Mayes' 21 points, 18 of which came in the second half. Dwayne Bacon and Terance Mann had 13 points each, as the Seminoles 12 straight wins is a school record, breaking a mark set in 1970. They also improved to 4-0 in ACC play for the first time in school history. FSU used a 16-4 run in the second half to pull away in their first game as a top-10 team since 1993. Duke fell to 2-2 in conference play, but was led by Luke Kennard's 23 points and Jayson Tatum's 21.
Harden's Triple-Double Leads Rockets to Ninth Straight Win
The Houston Rockets are on fire, as is their star and MVP candidate, James Harden. The bearded one finished with 40 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists, leading Houston to their ninth straight victory, 121-114, on Tuesday night over the Charlotte Hornets. It was Harden's 11th triple-double of the season, the 20th of his career, and the third of which while putting up 40 points this season. The latter number ties Russell Westbrook and Michael Jordan with the most such games in the past 30 seasons. He is also the fourth player in NBA history with at least 40 points, 10 rebounds, andd 10 assists in consecutive games. The 27-year-old did so in a win over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday as well. The Rockets did lead by as many as 18, but missed 10 straight shots, allowing Charlotte back into the game. Kemba Walker, who finished with 25 points, hit a three late to pull within three. Although, the Hornets could not stop Harden on the other end in the final seconds, helping the Rockets hang on.
